president obama is demanding that higher tax rates for the wealthy and a permanent extension of the debt ceiling, the government's ability to borrow money, be part of the deal. >> he's assuming unprecedented power to spend taxpayer dollars out any limit at all. >> reporter: republicans who say they're open to raising tax revenue say they will only do so in exchange for deep spending cuts. if washington can't strike a deal, one casualty will be compensation for the long-term unemployed. that means people like linda vega, are worried. >> christmas and things of that nature are probably off the table. >> reporter: aides to president obama and speaker boehner met yesterday afternoon. but that meeting ended with no discernible signs of progress. rob and paula? >> thanks, tahman. >>> once the numbers are all tallied, they're going to show that the 2012 presidential election was the most expensive in history. campaign finance statements put the total cost at well above $2 billion. virtually split down the middle between president obama and mitt romney. that includes nearly $86 million raised by